A practical commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and uses upon the first…A practicall commentary, or an exposition with observations, reasons, and vses upon the first…

2 This may show every Christian just ground of encouragement to keep himself close to Gods commandments, in keeping of them is great reward. For we keep in Christ Jesus, and we keep mutual, and entire, and constant fellowship with the Father, and so we shall find him as an Husband-man taking pains with us, keeping us from evil, and cleansing us from those corruptions which will make us stink in his nostrils; and this he will do, because he sees us taking pains, and employing that stock of graces which he hath bestowed on us. By this means God will make our lives comfortable, and will multiply graces in us in a great measure, and give us more strength to make us yield more obedience unto him. And whereas other Christians lives are very obscure, we shall shine forth as the Sun at noon day; therefore those Christians much wrong themselves that think themselves bound to no commandment, though they would do as God requires, yet they would do it freely, and not as commanded. But why then doth John bid us keep his commandments, and promise such blessings to us, if we do keep them? A good man would be doing good duties, though God did not command him, but yet he must therefore do good duties, because God commands him.

2 This may shew every Christian just ground of encouragement to keep himself close to Gods commandements, in keeping of them is great reward. For we keep in Christ Jesus, and we keep mutual, and entire, and constant fellowship with the Father, and so we shall finde him as an Husband-man taking pains with us, keeping us from evill, and cleansing us from those corruptions which will make us stink in his nostrils; and this he will do, because he sees us taking pains, and employing that stock of graces which he hath bestowed on us. By this means God will make our lives comfortable, and will multiply graces in us in a great measure, and give us more strentgh to make us yeeld more obedience unto him. And whereas other Christians lives are very obscure, we shall shine forth as the Sun at noon day; therefore those Christians much wrong themselves that think themselves bound to no commandment, though they would do as God requires, yet they would do it freely, and not as commanded. But why then doth John bid us keep his commandments, and promise such blessings to us, if we do keep them? A good man would be doing good duties, though God did not command him, but yet he must therefore do good duties, because God commands him.